Fare registering and indicating device



s, s w 32523 164 FARE REGI-S'IE'Rlllfi AND INDICATING DEVICE Filed 00+, 1941 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENT OR SAMUEL E. 571 144127" T'T'DK/ME'Y 8-, 1 15243., s, E. STEWART 3 L FARE REGISTERING AND INDICATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 5, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. SAMUEL E. STEWAET 3, 194%, s; s w 'r I I 2,321,164

mexsmnme AND INDICATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 5, 1941 5 sheets Shq-mt 3;

l Bi H I I J INVENTOR. SAMUEL 5 575mm operating member.

Patented June 8,1943

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE man REGISTERING AND INDICATING nsvrcn Samuel E. Stewart, Upper Darby, Pa.

Application October 3, 1941, Serial No. 413,400

'3 Claims. (Cl. 235-33) This invention has to do with devices employed for registering fares as they are collected by operators of buses, street cars and similar public conveyances; the invention being concerned primarily with registering devices that include means for visibly indicating the amount of a fare registered thereon.

At the present time operators of public conveyances of the character above noted are encouraged to dishonest habits because of the fact that there is not now available to the operating companies a practical registering and indicating device which will not only register the amount of the fare collected but also indicate the amount in such a manner that the indication is visible to persons in all parts of the vehicle. The present invention is predicated on the belief that dishonesty on the part of the vehicle operator will be greatly discouraged, if not, in fact, definitely precluded, by so noticeably indicating the amount of the fare collected that anyone in any part of the vehicle may see it. While attempt has been made to provide devices intended to accomplish the same general objects as above set forth they have not been accepted, generally, by the operating companies, probably because of the impractical and complex nature of the now available devices.

Accordingly, this invention has in view as its foremost objective the provision of a practical and simplified device for registering fares collected and at the same time visibly indicating the amount of the fare. A somewhat more de tailed object is the provision of such a device including an audible signal for indicating the fact that a fare has been registered.

In carryin out this objective in a practical embodiment the invention has in mind the provision of a device including a plurality of counter mechanisms, there being a counter for each denomination of iare which might be collected. Associated with each counter mechanism is an Cooperating dial elements, one of which is movable, indicate to the driver the amount of fare which will be registered, counted, and signalled to other observers when the proper operating member is pressed, and cooperating means prevent the registry, counting, and signalling of fares which do not correspond to the fare for which the dial members are set with respect to each other.

More in detail an object of this invention is the-provision of a device of the character above noted in which a movable shield assembly, carrying a plurality of indicia defining 'cut outs, in-

terposes one of said indicia between a spaced light source and screen to project onto said screen a fare corresponding to the one for which the dial elements are set with respect to each other when an operating member is depressed.

A further object is the provision of such an arrangement as set forth in the preceding paragraph in which an optical instrumentality is included for focusing light that passes from the light source through the cut out indicia onto the screen.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a fare registering and indicating device of the type above outlined in which an electrical circuit for the light source is provided and which circuit includes switches that are associated with the several operating members for the counter mechanisms. Thus, as any operating member is operated a switch is affected to close the circuit for the light source.

Along the same line a further detailed object is the provision of an audible signal which is preferably electrically operated with the electrical meansincluded in the circuit of the light source.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention will in part become apparent, and in part be hereinafter stated, as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises a fare registering and indicating device consisting of a plurality of counter mechanisms with each of which is associated an operating member, a movable element of cooperating dial elements is operatively connected to controlling means for said operating members of the counter mechanism so that only the operating member corresponding to the fare indicated on the dial elements may be operated. A shield assembly is also operatively connected to the movable dial element. This shield assembly includes a plurality of shields each having a cut out indicia for indicating the amount of a fare. A light source and a screen are disposed on opposite sides of the shield assembly and any one of the shield elements of. the assembly is adapted to be interposed between said light source and screen by operation of the movable dial. An optical instrumentality is also included for condensing and focusing light from the light source and causing it to be cast through the cut out of the shield onto the screen. The light source and an audible signal are included in an electrical circuit controlled by switches that are operated by said operating members.

accordance with the precepts of this invention,

Figure 2 is a side view developing the casing structure ,of the device diagrammatically and showing certain of the operating parts in side elevation and others in section, I

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but taken on a plane normal thereto,

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective showing certain of the connections between the movable operating dial element and the shield assembly and operating members for the counter mechanisms and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the electrical circuit for the light source and audible signal.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, and first more particularly to Figure 1, the fare registering and indicating device of this invention is shown as comprising a. casing referred to in its entirety by the reference character and which casing houses the various mechanisms, means, devices and instrumentalities making up the complete machine. The casing C comprises side walls It and H (see Figure 3), a rear wall |2, a front wall l3, top l4, bottom l and an inclined front wall l6. It will be noted that the corner which, ordinarily, would be defined by the top and front walls l4 and I 3 is cut away to shorten these walls and provide the inclined wall I6. This inclined wall I6 consists of a marginal frame [1 which houses a screen which preferably takes the form of a piece of frosted glass such as represented at'|6.

In the corner diagonally opposite to .the inclined wall l6, that is, the corner defined by rear wall l2 and bottom. I5, is located alight source which may take the form of an electric lamp such as illustrated at I9. This lamp I 3 may be mounted in any preferred manner such as by the bracket 20 which is anchored to the bottom I5 by bolt 2| and nuts 22.

A shaft 23 has one end joumaled in the front wall l3, as represented at 24, and another bearing for the shaft may be provided at any appropriate point spaced from this front bearing. The shaft 23 extends from the front wall I 3 to a point spaced from the lamp l9. Carried on this free end of the shaft 23 is a shield assembly referred to in its entirety by the reference character S. In the illustrated embodiment the shield assembly S consists of three shield elediflerent denominations, namely, five, ten and fifteen cents. It is to be clearly understood that this is to be no limitation on the invention as to the particular denomination or number of denominations since they may be varied without departing from the invention.

The shaft 23 carries a plurality'of cam disks which are disposed thereon in spaced relation.

These disks correspond in number to the number of denominations of fares. In the present instance there are three cam disks which are designated 30, 3| and 32. Each of the disks 30, 3| and 32 is anchored to the shaft 23 in driving relation by a. collar such as shown at 33. It will be noted that each of the cam disks 30, 3| and 32 has its circular edge cut away to provide flats 34, 35 and 36. It is important to note that these flats are in an offset relation to each other, thus, the fiat 35 has a relation of 90 to the flat 34 while the flat 36 is disposed in a 180 relation to the flat 34. These cam disks are provided for the purpose of controlling the operation of certain operating members in a manner to be hereinafter pointed out.

A plurality of counter mechanisms are anchored to the inner face of the side wall It. The side wall Ill may be cut away at appropriate points to provide windows 31 through which the indicia of the counter mechanisms may be viewed. The windows 31 correspond in number to the number of counter mechanisms. One of these counter mechanisms is shown in perspective in Figure 4 and is referred to in its entirety by the reference character C. Counter mechanisms of this type are well-known and available to the purchasing public. Counter mechanism C is shown as being carried by bracket 38 having a foot 39 which is anchored to the inner face of the wall In so as to bring the counter C in 'line with the proper window 31. Counter mechanism C includes an arm 4|! having a free end to which is connected a link 4|. The lower end of this link ments 25, 26 and 21 which extend outwardly in y the inclined manner illustrated from a base 28. This base 28 is anchored to shaft 23 as shown by the collar 29 and it is apparent that any one of the shield elements 25, 26 and 21 is adapted to be brought into position immediately in front of the lamp l9 and between this lamp and the screen l6. Each of the shield elements 25, 26 and 21 is provided with cut out indicia, that is, the shield itself is cut away to define indicia which will indicate the amount of a fare being registered. One shield element is designed for a 'fare of one denomination while a cut out of another shield element is for a fare of a different denomination. T It is to be noted that the device herein illustrated and described is particularly designed for the registering-and indicating of fares of three 4| is connected to an operating member which takes the form of a lever 42. pivoted at one end to a bracket 43 which may be carried by the side wall The side wall In is formed with a series of slots 44 that correspond in number and position to the windows 31, each of the slots 44 being disposed below one of the windows 31. The operating lever 42 projects through one of the windows 44 to render its free end accessible. This free end may carry a push tab such as shown at 45 and which tab may carry indicia for indicating the amount of the fare which is to be rung up by that particular counter. A tension coil spring shown at 46 has one end secured to the lever 42 and its other end meansare associated with the lever represented in the position depicted in Figure 4 the fiat 36 is at the top and only the lever 42 may be depressed. This same condition is carried over into The lever 42 is Figure 2 in which it will be noted that the circular edge surfaces of the cam disks and 3| engage the levers 48 and 41 to prevent their depression. Obviously, rotation of the shaft 23 may bring either of the other flats 34 or 35 to the topto permit the operation of respectiv operating lever 48 or 41. I

Cooperating dial elements are provided by a pointer 48 and indicia inscribed on the outer face oi the side wall Ill. The pointer 49 is non-rotatably mounted on a. stub shaft 50 which has bearin the side wall 10. Exterior of the side wall the stub shaft 50 carries an operating knob 5 l. is stub shaft 50 extends into the interior of the casing C and its free end carries a beveled gear 51. Another beveled gear 53 is complemental nd meshes with the gear 52. This gear 53 is carried by shaft 54 that is journaled bracket 55 that is anchored to the front Walt ht its other end the shaft 54 driveably carrier, a pulley tit. A second pulley 51 is driveably d on the shaft 23 and an endless drive passes over the pulleys 56 and 51. It is ent that the knob 5| is rotated to move ointer til to a proper location in relation to icia on the outer face of the wall it), that -a- 23 will be rotated through the connecas above described. This rotation of the shaft ses rotation of the cam disks and the rnbly.

cal instrumentality for focusing a light the iarnp it is represented, generally, by the :-ce character 0. This optical means comwhich carries necessary lenses t ed, iii and 52. it is evident that light from the lamp l9 and through the cut of one of the shield elements will be ecu. ed and cast onto the screen i 8 to define an age corresponding to the cut out of the shieid. audible signai may be located at any point with the casing C. Such an-audible represented diagrammatically in Figure l is designated 63. The audible signal .;e the form of well-known type of gong which is electrically operated. This gong will be placed it electrical circuit which includes the lamp one three controlling switches shown at t4, co and These switches 64, and 56 are beneath the levers 4t, 41 and 42 so that depression of any one of the levers the switch will be closed to complete the circuit of the lamp iii and gong 63.

"While the operation of the above described device is believed to be obvious from the foregoing description it may be briefly s mmarized by noting that when the operator of a public conveyance collects a fare he will first rotate the knob 58 so that the pointer 49 will come into registry with the particular number corresponding to the fare collected. Thus, under the condition depicted in the drawing, when a ten cent fare is collected the pointer 49 is brought opposite the number 10. Through the driving connections between the shaft 50 on which the knob 5| is mounted the shaft 23 is also rotated so that the flat 36 on cam disk 32 is brought to the topmost position beneath the lever 42 leaving this leveroptical instrumentality O. The operator then presses against the tab 45 on the lever 42 to depress this lever. As the lever is depressed two things happen, the counter mechanism C is oper ated in the well-known manner. and the switch 56 is closed to complete the electrical circuit of the lamp I9 and gong 63. Thus, the gong sounds to noticeably call attention to the fact that a fare is being rung up and at the same time the amount of the fare is flashed on the screen l8.

Under certain conditions, such as when the operator of the public conveyance carrying the fare registering and indicating device is hurried he may not bring the dial 49 into accurate align ment the indicla on the outer face of the wait it, that is, the point of the dial may not be exactly on the five, ten or iiiteen cent mark. However, the particular type oi cam disk employed is intended to remedy any such inacthe inaccuracy be present the ember it, 5'] or ll? is depressed its en with respective wiii cause the necessary to acbcdiment of the is "h it is to be on is not to be iustrated and cations of these the invention of the an eating device image proail of said housing i said housing, t source within projection indicia erposable be light source and said screen within counter mecharn and fare inoperating a nism arranged housing laterally c the optical path t ght source and said, screen, and s for said light iare indicia said counter mechanism extending erior of said housing to the exterior ulation by an operator.

tus or the character described comprising a an image screen carried by said casing in position for inspection from the exterior of rid casing, an electric lamp in said casing remote from said screen and in position to light said screen, said casing having a wall formed with a plurality of slots, counter mechanlsm within said casing, an operating member extending from each counter mechanism through one of said slots to the exterior of said casing, a shaft within said casing running transversely of said counter mechanism operating members,

a shield assembly carried by said shaft and including shield elements selectively movable into the optical path between said electrical lamp and said screen to project indicia images on said screen, cam elements carried by said shaft and disposed beneath said operating members for selectively restraining the operation thereof in accord with the position of said shield elements, cooperating dial elements including a movable dial element, operating connections between said movable dial elements and said shaft for causing rotation of said shaft to bring the desired are indicia shield across said optical path and release screen, rotatable restraining means for selectively locking said counter mechanisms, a fare indicia member carried by said rotative resrtaining means in position to interpose a proper fare indicia character into the optical path between said optical system and projection screen, and control means exterior of said casing and communicating with the interior thereof for operatingsaid rotatable restraining means.

SAMUEL E. STEWART. 

